Jul 30 SUMMER MOM

Summer Mom: She says yes and lives lightly.

Summer Mom catches lightning bugs and lets bedtimes slide. Summer Mom stays in her pajamas till lunch (at least) and silences the inner drill sergeant for the sake of popcorn and movie nights. Summer Mom jumps off the diving board with the kids, and sees a summer storm as a chance to take her daughter by the hand and dance in the rain (to which said daughter gets wide-eyed and giggles in a this-is-so-wrong-that-it’s-right way). Summer Mom relaxes her natural cringe when asked to “go swimming in the neighbor’s ditch.” Summer Mom camps. In a tent. Summer Mom also eats a lot of marshmallows. But, I digress.

Summer Mom wears a lot of homeopathic Icy Hot because she’s constantly sore from playing pick-up basketball in the driveway. Summer Mom plans spontaneous fun. Is that even a real thing? It is for her. Because, well, she’s still a Mom.

Summer Mom doesn’t recycle, but helps fashion cardboard boxes into playhouses. Summer Mom’s house is a train wreck, but she opens the front door to all the neighborhood children regardless of how many days’ worth of scrambled eggs are on the floor. Summer Mom teaches and disciplines from the heart instead of the hurry.

Summer Mom! She’s NOT tooting her own horn, it’s just that she’s finally started to see through the chaos into the bliss of motherhood. She’s tasted the juicy ripe produce, smelled the sweat and sunscreen, memorized the faces of those smiling babies, tuned into the sounds of late afternoon thunderstorms and relished the feeling of those relaxed snuggles.

When you count how many Summers you have left with those little ones napping right now, you’ll catch your breath and remind your Fall, Winter, and Spring self that “tans will fade but the memories will last forever” and “it’s not what you do or say, it’s how you make them feel” and “the work will always be there, but the babes won’t be!”

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." -Psalm 90:12

So, just because we will soon be back to packing lunches, searching through the clothes hamper, laying out uniforms, and signing permission slip -- Let’s live lightly and keep that “yes” on hand, because Summer Mom sure does feel like she is on to something; and it is exhilarating.

What about you? What ways does Summer bless and change the rest of you/your year?

@Kitty_Hurdle is a wannabe Summer Mom to a precious 8-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl. Join her at www.joelandkitty.com as she learns to parent with laughter, love, and grace, regardless of the season.